Letter to the Editor: Charters give more parents a say in their child’s education

Updated 8:45 pm, Saturday, December 9, 2017

If Dr. Carol Birks accepts the role of New Haven schools superintendent, she’ll be at the helm of education in a city where nearly 3,000 children are enrolled in charter schools. And while some take issue with this, as evidenced by some unfortunate and misguided comments made by her opponent Gary Highsmith, the truth is that charters work to the benefit of all kids. First, charter schools are public schools and are funded through their own line item in the state budget separate from district schools. The charter movement in Connecticut began because the existing model simply wasn’t working for some kids. According to the most recent SBAC’s, only 31 percent of New Haven district students were proficient in English Language Arts while just 21 percent were proficient in Math.

New Haven is home to several charters that are among the highest performing not just in the district, but across the state. Notably, U.S. News & World Report named Achievement First Amistad High School — a charter public high school in New Haven — the number one public high school of any kind in the state. Best of all, charters seek to work collaboratively with the district, sharing best practices in an effort to help all of New Haven’s kids succeed. You’ll see this at schools like Common Ground High School and Booker T. Washington Academy, two high-performing New Haven charters. I’m sure if charter naysayers like Highsmith spent a day visiting these schools (which we invite him to do) they would quickly see the value in having these schools as part of the educational landscape of New Haven.

Parents of means have always been able to exercise school choice, as they rightly should. We believe that’s a fundamental right all parents should have, regardless of income or neighborhood. Charters are giving more parents a say in their child’s education — something Dr. Birks seems to realize and embrace. We hope Mr. Highsmith, and other charter school doubters, will consider the incredible ways charters are helping to close the achievement gap for New Haven’s children.